PM E-DRIVE initiative
Why it Matters?
The Ministry of Heavy Industries launched India’s first-ever incentive scheme for electric trucks under PM E-DRIVE to boost green freight mobility, offering up to ₹9.6 lakh subsidy per e-truck and targeting deployment of 5,600 vehicles nationwide.
What You Should Know?
PM E-DRIVE stands for PM Electric Deployment and Repowering for Industrial Vehicles for the Environment (inferred name).
It is launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
It is the first-ever direct financial incentive scheme in India for electric trucks (e-trucks).
It targets the promotion of sustainable, low-emission freight mobility and net-zero emissions by 2070.
It covers N2 and N3 category trucks as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).
N2: Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) > 3.5 tonnes and ≤ 12 tonnes.
N3: GVW > 12 tonnes and ≤ 55 tonnes (Incentive only for the tractor unit in articulated vehicles).
Incentives to be disbursed as an upfront discount on vehicle purchase, reimbursed via the PM E-DRIVE portal, on a first-come, first-served basis.
It provides maximum incentive of ₹9.6 lakh per e-truck, based on the vehicle’s GVW.
Its battery warranty is 5 years or 5 lakh km, whichever comes earlier.
Vehicle and motor warranty is 5 years or 2.5 lakh km, whichever is earlier.
The scheme aims to support the deployment of 5,600 electric trucks nationwide.
It has a special provision for 1,100 e-trucks in Delhi with a ₹100 crore outlay to tackle air pollution.
Mandatory scrapping of old polluting trucks to qualify for incentives.
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) to procure 150 e-trucks in 2 years and ensure 15% of hired vehicles are electric.